Ex-coal secy PC Parakh's book reveals PM's limitations

Updated: Monday, April 14, 2014, 9:31 [IST]

New Delhi, April 14: After ex-media advisor Sanjaya Baru's embarassing remarks about PM Manmohan Singh, ex coal secretary PC Parakh has opened another chapter to Singh as PM, much to the latter's embarrassment. In his book "Crusader or Conspirator? Coalgate and other Truths", Parakh has clearly indicated that the country could have done with a better PM, even though Manmohan Singh had a strong personal integrity.

He also mentioned that the PM has little "political authority" in the Cabinet and as an example he relates an encounter with the PM during his farewell. Parakh had went to meet the Prime MInister on a farewell call after he submitted his resignation to Cabinet Secretary B K Chaturvedi.

The author said how he was instigated to put down his papers when BJP MP Dharmendra Pradhan insulted him during a parliamentary standing committee meeting and the government did not even bother to back him.

He said in his book,"On August 17, 2005 I met the Prime Minister for a farewell call. I wanted to express my concern at the insult and humiliation that members of Parliament heap on civil servants and senior executives of public service undertakings."

CBI has registered a case against Parakh in the Coalblock scam, on which the PM expressed his anguish saying that he faced similar problems everyday. But it would not be in the national interest if he was to offer his resignation on every such issue.

Parakh further added,"I do not know if the country would have got a better Prime Minister if Dr Manmohan Singh had resigned, instead of facing the humiliation of his own ministers not implementing or reversing his decision.By continuing to head a government in which he had little political authority, his image has been seriously dented by 2G scam and coalgate although he has had a spotless record of personal integrity."

On his encounter with the PM, Parakh said that there was little chance of improvement in the coal sector as he functioned with limitations.

The Book will be released on Tuesday, April 15.

OneIndia News